The French government said on Wednesday, March 19, that a French researcher had been denied entry to the United States and sent back to France because he had expressed a "personal opinion" on US research policy.
"I learned with concern that a French researcher," on assignment for the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), "who was traveling to a conference near Houston was denied entry to the United States before being expelled," said French Minister of Higher Education and Research Philippe Baptiste in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP). "This measure was apparently taken by the American authorities because the researcher's phone contained exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he expressed a personal opinion on the Trump administration's research policy," he added.
A diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse that the incident occurred on March 9. The source said the scientist in the space sector underwent a random check on arrival, during which his work computer and personal phone were searched, and messages referring to Donald Trump's administration's treatment of scientists were found. Authorities told him they had found messages "that express hatred towards Trump and can be qualified as terrorism," the source said. His professional and personal equipment was confiscated and he was sent back to Europe the following day.
Another source familiar with the case told AFP that American authorities said the French researcher had been denied entry because of "hateful and conspiracy messages." An FBI investigation was opened, for which "the charges have been dropped," continued this source.
"Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them, while respecting the law," said Baptiste, the minister. Contacted by AFP, US border authorities had no immediate reaction.
The French Foreign Ministry said that the US is "sovereign" over the entry and residence of foreign nationals on its territory and said that French consular services have been "informed of this situation." However, the Foreign Ministry said it "deplores this situation" and reiterated its "determination to promote freedom of expression," as well as the French government's commitment "to academic and scientific cooperation."
This incident comes at a time when, since his return to the White House, Trump has been making a series of shocking announcements targeting the scientific community, including brutal budget cuts and the censorship of certain subjects in publically funded research.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.